Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-04-08
A Disgraceful Performance.

|
Sutton as president of the board. 1t began
by vote of the aldermen, six to four, to
organize in secret session This is a new
thing in the history of the board, and an
obviously improper thing There is no
analogy between the common practice of
closing the doors when nominations of
officers are to be considered, and closing
them when legislative body organizes.
What would the people of Vermont say if
the next House of Representatives at
Montpelier should vote to 90 into secret
session for the election of speaker They
would say that it was grossly improper,
and prtnd fdciC evidence that some un-
demanded game was on foot, which would
not bear the light The citizens of Bur
lington cannot think differently about an
organization of Cur city Legislature, con-
Quoted under the veil of a secret session.
Yet when we consider what they were
about to do, it is no wonder that the alder
men wished to get out of sight
Having closed the doors they proceeded
to elect president of the board. Fifty
two ballots were taken, standing, for
Booth, Aldermen Brown, Johnson, Cook,
Parker and Booth for Englesby, Alder
men McKillip, Watson, Smith, and Engles-
by for Sutton, Alderman sutton.
On the SD ballot Mr.. Cook changed his
vote to Sutton and was followed by
Englesby, McKillip, Watson and Smith,
giving Mr.. Sutton, witk his own, SIN
votes, and electing him.
How does this look to outsiders Here
is a board elected by, responsible to, and
whose duty it is to represent, the citizens
of Burlington. The citizens of Burling
ton passed their verdict upon Mr.. Sutton
a month ago, when they rejected him for
mayor by vote of almost two to one.
Many of the best men in his own party re
fused to vote for him. They and the 900
republicans who voted against him, had
very distinct reasons for their course. One
ward, commonly democratic by All i'm
mense majority, gave him bare MAORI
ty. All the rest, his own ward included,
voted against him. The voters knew what
they were about when they did so
And now within five weeks from
the day when this tremendous re-
buke was administered when the
great majority of our citiZens-a majority
which certainly did not suffer as COM
pared with their opponents as regards in
telligence, responsibility and character
declared that they would have no such
man as Mr. Sutton in the chief executive
office of our city, a republican Board of
Aldermen picks up Mr.. Sutton, sets him
on his feet, gives him the second Office in
prominence in our city and in possible
contingency makes him mayor for the
charter provides that in case of the death l.,
disability or. prolonged absence of the
mayor, the president of the Board of AL
dermen shall become the acting mayor {!
The republicans whose votes brought
about this result are Aldermen Englesby,
kckillip, Watson and Smith. We confess
TO the utmost surprise that any one of
these gentlemen, hitherto good republicans
and respected citizens. could have brought
himself down to such Il proceeding. They
have certainly in so doing struck a very
damaging blow at the supremacy of the
republican party in our city, and at their
own good names. 1t cannot be but that
they will, each one of them. in the future
greatly regret their course in this matter.
If any justification can be offered for it
we should be glad to know what it can be.
1t is not for us to say who should have
been elected president Mr.. Booth of
course could hardly be expected to with
draw his name as long as it was the lead
ing one, until he was satisfied he could 90
no higher. If under the circumstances,
Mr.. Englesby had declined in favor of the
candidate who had the plurality vote and
who had filled the office satisfactorily, it
certainly would have been pronounced a
handsome thing on his part, and it would
have been remembered to his credit but
at any rate it was the duty of the repub-
lcans to unite on some good republi-
can; and in any event to so vote
as not to insult the republicans of Bur
lingtOn by forcing upon them as president
Of the board and possible mayor the man
they had so empbatcally rejected but a
month ago. On that point there can be no
difference of opinion among the great
body of our citizens.
How far this result was connected with
some others that followed, we do not
know but some of the other elections
We're extraordinary. Thus the board
turned out Henry Greene, the best over
seer of the poor this city has ever
had - who has managed our poor
department with extraordinary good
judgment, efficiency and economy -
in order TO give the Office to man, who,
however worthy in general character, is
in infirm health, and not specially fitted
for such place. We have not the slight
est prejudice against Mr. Rumsey, and
shall cheerfully give him credit for all he
accomplishes but he can not be expected
to make good Mr.. Greene's place. Mr..
Lavel, the excellent constable and col
lector of last year, who collected the taxes
with remarkable completeness and sue
cess, was set aside for new man, who
may and who may not do as well. These
were not commendable changes. Other
offices were we'll filled. The old officers
reelected had earned their retention by
faithful service, and Mr.. Robert Roberts
for city attorney, Mr. Whittemore for
grand juror, Mr.. Votey as city engineer,
are excellent selections OF the committees
it is enough to say that they were ar
ranged according to the slate, and as a
al l, i,,f, oil